UTICA, N.Y. -- The old Utica Psychiatric Center has sparked a lot of curiousity in the city of Utica for decades.
It was built in 1843. The building has been named a National Historic Landmark. Friday, dozens of people had the opportunity to get a look inside a small portion of the building and learn about its history.
"Through the work of a lot of the people here, including the first superintendent, Amariah Brigham, they discovered how best to take care of people with mental illness, including work therapy," said Michael Bosak, a member of the Landmark Society of Greater Utica. "The whole idea of occupational therapy began right here in this building."
This round of tours was filled weeks in advance. Organizers say they will look to schedule more tour dates in the future.